Property Tax Relief – Homestead

General Homestead Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-175)

CCAO(1)

July 1st of assessment year.

N/A

N/A

Exemption on owner-occupied residence in an amount equal to the difference between current EAV and 1977 EAV up to a $5,000 maximum statewide.  Increases to $5,500 for 2008 assessment year (property taxes payable in 2009) and $6,000 for 2009 assessment year (payable in 2010).⁵ One exemption per parcel except for cooperatives and life care facilities.  May prorate for new construction from the time it is owner-occupied. Married couples living separately split the exemption 50/50.

Homestead Improvement Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-180)

Form PTAX-323 if application is required.

CCAO(1)

Automatically signed up by CCAO.

N/A

N/A

Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption

Form PTAX-323 if applications is required.

CCAO(1)

July 1st of assessment year.

N/A

65²

Exemption on owner-occupied residence as of Jan. 1 of the assessment year with a $3,500 statewide reduction in EAV.  Increases to $4,000 for 2008 assessment year (property taxes payable 2009).⁵ Prorate the exemption for a senior citizen that occupies property as their principal residence after Jan. 1 of any assessment year. No restrictions for married couples living separately, both may qualify for exemption.

Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-172)

Form PTAX-340.

CCAO(1)

July 1st of assessment year.

$50,000 per household (includes spouse and all using home as principal residence). Increases to $55,000 per household for 2008 assessment year property taxes
payable 2009.

65²

Exemption on owner-occupied residence that freezes the property's EAV at a set base year amount to prevent or limit any increase due to inflation. The base year amount is set at the property's EAV for the prior year the applicant first qualifies for the exemption. The exemption amount is the difference between the current year's EAV and the frozen base year amount (EAV). The frozen base amount at which the EAV is frozen will change when new improvements increase the assessed value that is not due to a temporary irregularity. Married couples living separately, only one person may claim the exemption and for only one property.

Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program

(320 ILCS 30/1 et. seq.)

Form IL-1017-TD & IL-1018-TD; or

Form IL-1017-SA & IL-1018-SA.

File annually.

County Collector

Jan. 1- March 1 of program year.

$40,000 per household (husband and wife); increases to $50,000 for property taxes paid 2006 and deferred in 2007.

65³

Tax deferral of all real estate taxes and special assessment payments (up to 80% of equity interest) at 6% simple interest rate on deferred amount for the personal residence of qualifying seniors until property is sold or becomes unqualified.

Circuit Breaker Program / Illinois Care Rx Program

(320 ILCS 25/1 et. seq.)

Form IL-1363

File annually.

Il Dept. on Aging 1-800-624-2459

Jan. 1-Dec. 31 of program year after the property taxes are paid.

Households of:

1 person- Under $22,218

2 person- Under $29,480

3 person- Under $36,740

See next col.

A yearly grant of $0 to $700 for property tax relief, mobile home tax, rent, or nursing home costs.  Applications(4) must be age 65(2) or older, age 16 or older when totally disabled, or age 63 or 64 and recently widowed with a deceased spouse receiving or was eligible to receive program benefits.  For more information, write to:

Illinois Dept. on Aging
PO Box 19003
Springfield, IL 62794-9003
Or call Senior Help Line: 1-800-252-8966

Internet: www.cbrx.il.gov
Email: ilsenior@aging.state.il.us

License Plate Discount: Approved applicants are eligible for vehicle license plate discounts from Secretary of State, Renewals Section, Room 500 Howlett Bldg., Springfield IL 62756-7000 or call 1-800-252-2904.

Disabled Veterans Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-165)
(35 ILCS 515/7.5)

Form RLG-52A

File annually.

Il Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs 217-782-3421

By Sept. 15 prior to the tax year

N/A

N/A

Reduction up to $70,000 in assessed value of property.  Disabled veterans, their spouses, or unmarried surviving spouses must own and exclusively use specially adapted housing (as defined by federal law) as their primary residence on Jan. 1 of the assessment year.

Mobile Home Local Services Tax Exemptions is also available on a mobile home owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran or their spouse.

If you claim this exemption, you can not claim the "Disabled Persons" Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-168) or the "Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead" Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169).

Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-169)

Form PTAX-342

Annual Application

CCAO (1)

July 1st of assessment year.

Exemption on owner-occupied property that is the primary residence of a disabled veteran who is liable for the payment of property taxes.  “Veteran” means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has received an honorable discharge.  For veterans with a service-connected disability and certified by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs as having at least 75% disability, an annual exemption of $5,000 and those veterans with a certified disability of at least 50%, but less than 75%, an annual exemption of $2,500. 

If you claim this exemption you can not claim the Disabled Veterans Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-165) or the Disabled Persons Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169).

Disabled Persons’ Homestead Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-168)

Form PTAX-343 Initial Application Form PTAX-343-V Annual Verification

CCAO (1)

July 1st of assessment year.

Exemption on owner-occupied property that is the primary resident of a disabled person who is liable for the payment of property taxes.  A person who is disabled during the taxable year is eligible to apply during that taxable year.  The reduction is $2,000 in the property's EAV.

If the disabled person becomes a resident of licensed nursing home, the exemption still applies as long as the property is occupied by their spouse or if the residence remains unoccupied, but is still owned by the qualifying individual.

A disabled person that is a resident of a cooperative apartment building or life care facility is eligible to receive this exemtion if the property is occupied as the disabled person's primary residence and the disabled person is liable by contract for payment of the property taxes.

A “Disabled Person” means a person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period for not less than 12 months. 

To be eligible, a "Disabled Person" has to receive benefits under the Federal Social Security Act or possess a "Disabled Person Identification Card" stating that the claimant is under a class 2 disability. A "Disabled Person" who does not meet one of the two prior requirements shall be examined by a physician designated by the Department of Revenue, and his status as a disabled person determined using the same standards as used by the Social Security Administration. The cost of any required examination shall be borne by the claimant.

If you claim this exemption you cannot claim the Disabled Veterans Exemption (35 ILCS/15-165) or the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169).

Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption

(35 ILCS 200/15-167)

Form PTAX-341

File in year upon return

CCAO (1)

July 1st of assessment year.

Exemption on owner-occupied property that is the principal residence of a veteran returning from an armed conflict involving the Armed Forces of the United States who is liable for the payment property taxes.  “Veteran” means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces, a member of the Illinois National Guard or a member of the United States Reserve Forces.

The exemption is a $5,000 reduction in the property's EAV and only for the tax taxable year in which the veteran returns from active duty. A veteran can apply again upon their return fro active duty in a subsequent tax year. 

¹CCAO acronym for Chief County Assessment Officer (i.e. County Assessor or Supervisor Assessments).

²Eligible if applicant turns 65 within the tax year.

³ Eligible if applicant is 65 or older by June 1 of application year.

⁴Applicant must meet other eligibility qualifications.

⁵PA 95-644, House Bill increased exemption amounts for Sec. 15-170, Sec. 15-172, Sec. 15-175 and Sec. 15-176 of the Property Tax Code. Legislation also created 3 new exemptions: Sec. 15-167 Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption, Sec. 15-168 Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption, and Sec. 15-169 Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption.